Excellent resource found on TpT at Shari Abbey's store.

1. Text Structure
What is it and
why does it matter?
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License.

2. Let’s start with the question
“Why does text structure
matter?”
To understand this, you will
need a pencil or pen and a piece
of paper.
Study the next image you see
for 30 seconds. You will be
asked to recreate this image.

4. Now draw the image
as you remember it.

5. Let’s try another one.
Get your pencil and paper
ready.
You will have 30 seconds to
study the next image.
:30

7. Why was the second
image easier to
recreate than the
first?
STRUCTURE

8. Most fiction text is
structured with a predictable
pattern, making it easier to
remember.
Beginning Event
Climax

9. The first image had no
pattern, which makes it
difficult to understand and
remember.

10. Just like the first image,
random facts are difficult
for your mind to predict
and remember.
Informational text is
composed of random facts.
So much to learn!

11. The second image had a
specific pattern your
mind could predict and
remember.

12. Just like the second image,
fiction text is easier for
your mind to predict and
remember because it is
organized.
Great
story!

13. To help readers
understand and
remember facts in
Informational Text,
authors organize the
random facts using……

14. The text structure an
author chooses depends
upon the information
he/she wants the
reader to know or
understand.

15. For example, let’s look at
the topic of Valentine’s
Day.
Let’s say you are the
author. What do you
want your readers to
know or understand
about Valentine’s Day?

16. How to make a special
kind of Valentine?
To explain how to do or
make something step by
step, an author would
probably choose to use
the sequence text
structure.

17. To explain similarities and
differences between two
things, an author would
probably choose
the
compare/contrast
text structure.
To explain the
difference between the
original purpose of
Valentine’s Day and the
purpose of Valentine’s
Day today?

18. To explain why St.
Valentine was arrested?
the cause/effect text
structure
To explain why or
how something
happened, an author
would probably
choose

19. To describe the ruins of
the church that was built
to honor St. Valentine?
the description text
structure
To describe the way
something looks, feels,
smells, sounds or
tastes, an author
would probably choose

20. Maybe you want to
explain the problem that
Roman emperor Claudius II
was having recruiting
men to be soldiers in his
army and what he decided
to do about it.
the problem/solution
text structure
To describe a problem
and possible solutions,
an author would likely
choose

21. What is text structure?
A pattern or order
authors use to organize
the random facts and
information they want
their readers to know
and remember.
Facts
Facts
Facts

22. Why is text structure
important?
Order and organization
makes it easier for our
minds to understand and
remember informational
text.
Could you draw this again? Could you draw this again?

23. When you read
informational text,
notice the text
structure. This will help you
understand and remember the
information better.
When you write informational
text, think about which text
structure would best
organize your information so
your reader can understand
and remember it better.